Sewer plant for county is a pipe dream

Published: Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, April 5, 2013 at 4:42 p.m.

Henderson County leaders seem to face a conundrum on whether to join a new regional water and sewer authority — except that they may have little choice in the matter.

Legislation introduced by N.C. Rep. Chuck McGrady and two Republican colleagues would make the county’s Cane Creek Sewage District part of a regional water and sewer authority. As the bill is now written, the county would get three members on a 15-member governing board. County leaders say that’s not enough.

The newly created Metropolitan Water and Sewerage District would save area utility customers millions of dollars annually, according to Reps. McGrady, Tim Moffitt and Nathan Ramsey. For Cane Creek customers, the savings would average roughly $120 per year.

The majority of sewer customers in Henderson County, approximately 20,000 residents, are served by the City of Hendersonville’s system, which is not part of the consolidation. In comparison, the Cane Creek system serves about 3,200 customers in Fletcher and Mills River. Sewage from the system is already being piped to the MSD plant in Woodfin.

County leaders are right when they say the northern part of the county is growing and likely to see a lot more growth in the future. But it is highly questionable whether that growth would justify the county spending close to $30 million to build its own sewage plant. And this may all be a moot point if the legislation sponsored by McGrady, Moffitt and Ramsey wins approval.

Asheville leaders and residents strongly object to the city giving up control of its water system with no compensation. If the legislation passes, that matter is likely to end up in court.

Henderson County leaders, meanwhile, gripe that they want more representation than the three seats spelled out in the legislation. “They’ve offered us three (seats) for some time,” Chairman Charlie Messer says. “We’ve said it would take at least four.”

A new study by consultants Davis & Floyd states that the county could build its own wastewater treatment plant at two potential sites in Fletcher for roughly $29 million, saving customers about a dollar or slightly more from the $5.32 per 1,000 gallons they now pay under MSD. However, one option doesn’t include the cost of purchasing the 11-acre Cranston property, or the costs of getting a state permit to discharge treated effluent into Cane Creek.

Under another less likely option, the county would have to somehow convince MSD to allow it to continue to use MSD’s lines. That seems like a pipe dream (pun intended) as it would involve having to separate sewage flows of North Henderson and South Buncombe counties.

The final option requires the county to build a new wastewater treatment plant at the “Airport Industrial site,” which would discharge into the French Broad River. Has anyone asked Sierra Nevada its thoughts on this idea? The company is investing $107.5 million for its new environmental showcase East Coast brewery in Mills River and might not be thrilled to have a sewage treatment plant right across the river.

Each of these complex scenarios assumes the state would approve new or expanded sewage treatment facilities discharging into the French Broad River or its tributary, Cane Creek. That is questionable when you consider MSD is now operating at about 40 percent of its maximum capacity of 40 million gallons per day, leaving ample room for expansion.

Commissioner Larry Young says he wants more details from the consulting firm but says he is leaning toward the county building its own sewer plant and staying “self-sufficient.” Three votes on a 15-member board aren’t enough, he says, “because that means the others are going to vote with the city of Asheville.”

McGrady said there’s no basis for giving Henderson County more seats than Buncombe County or Asheville based on the number of customers and billings each brings to the table. By being part of the regional authority, Henderson County will have a voice and a place at the table on issues related to water, he says.

“Moreover, I think it’s a really good deal in not having to build a sewer plant,” McGrady says.

That simple argument, versus the myriad complexities and conjectured costs of the other options, weighs heavily in favor of the county joining the proposed Metropolitan Water and Sewerage District.

<p>Henderson County leaders seem to face a conundrum on whether to join a new regional water and sewer authority  except that they may have little choice in the matter.</p><p>Legislation introduced by N.C. Rep. Chuck McGrady and two Republican colleagues would make the county’s Cane Creek Sewage District part of a regional water and sewer authority. As the bill is now written, the county would get three members on a 15-member governing board. County leaders say that’s not enough.</p><p>The newly created Metropolitan Water and Sewerage District would save area utility customers millions of dollars annually, according to Reps. McGrady, Tim Moffitt and Nathan Ramsey. For Cane Creek customers, the savings would average roughly $120 per year.</p><p>The majority of sewer customers in Henderson County, approximately 20,000 residents, are served by the City of Hendersonville’s system, which is not part of the consolidation. In comparison, the Cane Creek system serves about 3,200 customers in Fletcher and Mills River. Sewage from the system is already being piped to the MSD plant in Woodfin.</p><p>County leaders are right when they say the northern part of the county is growing and likely to see a lot more growth in the future. But it is highly questionable whether that growth would justify the county spending close to $30 million to build its own sewage plant. And this may all be a moot point if the legislation sponsored by McGrady, Moffitt and Ramsey wins approval.</p><p>Asheville leaders and residents strongly object to the city giving up control of its water system with no compensation. If the legislation passes, that matter is likely to end up in court.</p><p>Henderson County leaders, meanwhile, gripe that they want more representation than the three seats spelled out in the legislation. They’ve offered us three (seats) for some time, Chairman Charlie Messer says. We’ve said it would take at least four.</p><p>A new study by consultants Davis & Floyd states that the county could build its own wastewater treatment plant at two potential sites in Fletcher for roughly $29 million, saving customers about a dollar or slightly more from the $5.32 per 1,000 gallons they now pay under MSD. However, one option doesn’t include the cost of purchasing the 11-acre Cranston property, or the costs of getting a state permit to discharge treated effluent into Cane Creek.</p><p>Under another less likely option, the county would have to somehow convince MSD to allow it to continue to use MSD’s lines. That seems like a pipe dream (pun intended) as it would involve having to separate sewage flows of North Henderson and South Buncombe counties.</p><p>The final option requires the county to build a new wastewater treatment plant at the Airport Industrial site, which would discharge into the French Broad River. Has anyone asked Sierra Nevada its thoughts on this idea? The company is investing $107.5 million for its new environmental showcase East Coast brewery in Mills River and might not be thrilled to have a sewage treatment plant right across the river.</p><p>Each of these complex scenarios assumes the state would approve new or expanded sewage treatment facilities discharging into the French Broad River or its tributary, Cane Creek. That is questionable when you consider MSD is now operating at about 40 percent of its maximum capacity of 40 million gallons per day, leaving ample room for expansion.</p><p>Commissioner Larry Young says he wants more details from the consulting firm but says he is leaning toward the county building its own sewer plant and staying self-sufficient. Three votes on a 15-member board aren’t enough, he says, because that means the others are going to vote with the city of Asheville.</p><p>McGrady said there’s no basis for giving Henderson County more seats than Buncombe County or Asheville based on the number of customers and billings each brings to the table. By being part of the regional authority, Henderson County will have a voice and a place at the table on issues related to water, he says.</p><p>Moreover, I think it’s a really good deal in not having to build a sewer plant, McGrady says.</p><p>That simple argument, versus the myriad complexities and conjectured costs of the other options, weighs heavily in favor of the county joining the proposed Metropolitan Water and Sewerage District.</p>